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Goa DFDA’s Observer status with US FDA strengthens pharma sector in Goa: Shweta Dessai
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
August 07 , 2025
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Goa’s pharmaceutical industry has received a significant boost with the Goa Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (DFDA) getting the Observer status from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alongside a rise in medical store licences, and an expanding manufacturing and testing infrastructure, informed Shweta Dessai, director of the DFDA, Goa.
She further informed that Goa DFDA has issued 85 new retail licences and 33 wholesale licences since April 2024. The state now hosts 1,017 licensed retail premises and 377 wholesale distributors.
A key development for the industry is the US FDA granting Goa DFDA observer status in joint inspections of drug manufacturing units. This initiative allows Goa’s drug inspectors to work alongside officials from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the US FDA, helping them gain hands-on exposure to best global regulatory practices.
“This marks a significant step towards aligning Goa’s pharmaceutical sector with international quality and compliance standards. It also showcases the growing collaboration between Indian and US regulatory authorities in promoting transparency and accountability,” Dessai said.
Goa’s manufacturing base is also expanding. The state is home to 53 allopathic drug manufacturing units, 14 medical device units, 8 ayurvedic units, and 8 cosmetics units. Many of these are internationally approved and serve both domestic and global markets.
In terms of infrastructure, Goa DFDA has established five blood banks and a public drug testing laboratory equipped with modern chemical and microbiological analysis tools. The lab has tested 1,605 drug samples since April 2024, of which 11 were found to be of not-of -standard quality (NSQ).
The Goa DFDA is supported by a team of qualified pharmacists who assist 10 drug inspectors, along with three assistant commissioners, two deputy directors, and the director, to ensure smooth regulatory operations across the state.
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